Dental mirror with replaceable reflector



Dewa 119 3 950 L. a... GlTTELSON 2,534,706

DENTAL MIRROR WITH REPLACEABLE REFLECTOR Filed Sept. 1, 1949 INVENTOR ESER L. GITTELSON ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNlTED STATES EAENTOFFICE- DENTAL MIRROR WITH REPLACEABLE REFLECTOR 1 Claim.

My present invention relates to dental mirrors and more particularly tothat type of dental mirror in which the mirror element is readilyreplaceable by an easily performed manual operation, while at the sametime the entire unit and the replaceable mirror element and retainingmeans are so constructed that recesses or pockets in which foreignmatter may collect are obviated.

Dental mirror units With replaceable mirror elements have long beenknown, but the many difficulties attendant upon their use owing eitherto the nature of the manipulation required for replacement or to thedimculty in avoiding foreign matter collecting pockets and recesses haveheretofore made the use of the one-piece mirror wherein the reflectingelement was integral with the handle almost exclusive.

My present invention contemplates a ring retainer for a circular unitaryreflecting member, the ring having an inner annular recess matching incross-section the bevel or bevels of the reflecting member.

The ring is made of resilient metal and is provided with a radialoutward extension. The extension is split longitudinally, the split ordivision also going through the ring so that the ring may be spread toremove the reflecting member and replace it with a new one.

When the ring and its split extensions are pressed together around areflecting member with the split portions of the extension squeezedtogether, the reflecting member is held firmly in the ring. Thecomposite extension when its parts are pressed together has a conicalform tapering away from the ring. The end of the handle is provided witha socket also of conical form tapering toward the base. The angle oftaper of the socket is preferably equal to the angle of taper of theextension. Thus, when the extension is pushed into the socket, it isfirmly frictionally held.

Thus, with my invention, to replace a reflector it is only necessary to(1) pull the extension out of the handle socket (2) the resilience ofthe ring then causes it to spread to permit the reflector to drop out(3) insert a new reflector in the ring and squeeze the extensiontogether (4) push the extension into the handle socket.

The pushing in of the extension imparts the final squeeze to the ring tohold the reflector properly in place.

Thereafter, the ring and the reflector it carries may readily be rotatedat any time to a desired angle with respect to the handle especially inthe case of a handle which has an obtuse angle bend of the typecustomary with dental mirrors.

The manipulation required with screw thread securing members iseliminated. The utilization of a solid unitary reflector unit whetherwith one reflecting surface or two reflecting surfaces, one of which maybe concave, and the matching of the bevel of this solid reflector unitwith the re-. cess in the ring eliminates recesses or pockets which maycollect foreign matter and obviates the need for rubber or felt pads toreduce the size of the pockets.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is the provision of anovel dental mirror with a readily removable and replaceable reflectingelement.

An additional object of my invention is the combination of a resilientring reflector holder having a conical extension with a conical socketin the handle to retain the extension and the ring.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means of securing areflector to the handle of a dental mirror in such manner that rotationof the reflector for adjustment will not interfere with the securementand the means of securement does not reduce the rotatability of thereflector.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a solid unitaryreflecting element having bevels matching the recess in the resilientring whereby pockets or recesses which may collect foreign matter areavoided.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will becomeapparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a composite view of my novel dental mirror.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of my novel ring retainer for thereflecting element of my novel dental mirror.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3of Figure 2 throughthe ring retainer.

Figure 4 is an end view of the reflecting element taken from line i l ofFigure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the split extension of the ring ofFigure 2.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the end of the handleshowing the socket for receiving the extension of the ring.

Referring to the figures, my novel dental mirror comprises a handle illhaving a suitablev gripping surface H and a shank l2 havingan' obtuseangle bend l3 terminating in a socket Ill. The socket I4 is preferably asmooth bore reamed or otherwise machined to taper conically toward thebase I5 thereof.

The ring is preferably made of resilient metal or half round wire bentinto the form of the ring of Figure 2 with the ends 2|, 22 bent out sothat when pressed together as seen in Figure 5, they form the shank 23.

The ring 20 bent from the half round wire into the form of Figure 2 andwith the end extensions 2| and 22 pressed together is placed in asuitable tool which forms the beveled inner annular recess 25 in thering. The ends 2!, 22 pressed together to form the shank 23 are thentapered to form the composite shank 23 into conical form as shown inFigure 5.

Preferably, although the angles are shown unequal, the angle of taper ofopening !4 is equal to the angle of taper of shank 23 so that when shank23 is forced in, it is a tight frictional fit in the socket or opening[4.

The reflector (see also Figure 4) is in this case shown as consisting oftwo plane mirrors 3| and 32 each having the annular bevel 33, 34 andcemented back to back by cement surface 35.

If desired, one of the elements 3!, 32 may be concave, or it may be ametallic or other backing of the same shape.

Cement surface 35 is a material which will remain unimpaired underrepeated sterilizing operations, which will not harm the silveredsurfaces of the mirrors and will make a smooth lamination between themirrors without pockets, recesses and voids. A suitable cement for thispurpose is 3-.M adhesive Formula No. EC-324, a product of the MinnesotaMining 8: Manufacturing Co. EC is a non-vulcanizing solvent typeadhesive which has a relatively short tack range and air dries to tackfree film in a short time. It has qualified under AAF specification26554-3 Thermal limits-adhesion is not seriously impaired attemperatures up to 240 F. nor does it become brittle and lose adhesiondown to -2-0 F.

Bond characteristics-very firm, flexible and tough.

The bevels 38, 39 of recess 25 in ring 20 match the bevels 33, 34 of thereflector.

When a reflector 30 is to be replaced in the unit, ring 2!] is pulledout, ends 2|, 22 of shank 23 are spread to permit the old reflector todrop r out.

.A new reflector 3B is inserted, the sides of the ring 20 are squeezedto bring ends 2| and 22 together tov form the shank 23, shank 23 ispushed into sock t IA where it is compressed to squeeze the ring 20 morefirmly around the reflector 30; this causes the bevels 38, 39 of recess"25 of resilient ring 29 to climb the bevels 3|, 32 of the reflector 30and thus ensure a tight annular securement of the reflector 30 withoutpockets, openings, vo ds or recesses in which foreign matter maycollect.

Although the ring 20 carrying the reflector is thus securely held by thehandle I!) against'removal, it may readily be rotated to bring thereflector 3!! to any desired angular position.

The formation of the entire reflector 30 as a single unit and theutilization of resilient ring 20 makes felt or rubber pads or springcushions or other resilient elements unnecessary and prevents theformation of .pockets, recesses, voids or other elements orconformations wherein foreign matter may collect. Also, where desired,

individual separable mirrors may be used back to back in place of thesingle reflector.

The instrument may thus be sterilized as a unit with complete safety ormay, if desired, be readily taken apart for sterilization.

Thus, every component part is open for sterilization. There are noporous elements or other surfaces which cannot be reached by thesterilizing process.

The utilization of pressure fit frictionally holdil'lg elements forconnecting the ring and the handle permits the handle and the whole unitto have a slender tapered form without bulges or extensions which mayharm the gums, the corners of the mouth or the lips when the dentalmirror is in use.

While the importance of my invention lies in the simplifiedconstruction, the ready replaceability of the mirror, its adjustability,and the absolute cleanliness and sterilizability of the unit, it is alsoimportant for the elements heretofore known and used which my inventionobviates.

No screw thread arrangements requiring complex manipulations are needed,no threading of split shafts is required, rotation of the reflector willnot loosen it, relatively bulky swivel joints are eliminated, rubber orfelt pads are not required and the formation of pockets or recesses inwhich foreign matter may collect does not occur.

The user may replace the mirror easily and immediately when it becomesscratched or clouded for any reason or when he desires for any reason tochange from one type of mirror to another.

In theforegoing I have described by invention solely in connection withspecific illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations andmodifications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled inthe art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures hereincontained but only by the appended claim.

I claim:

A dental mirror comprising a handle, a smooth surfaced conically shapedsocket at one end of the handle, a reflector, a resilient metalretaining ring having an annular internal groove surrounding andsupporting the reflector, an externally smooth surfaced conically shapedsplit shank formed from the ends of said retaining ring, said ends beinginternally engageable with each other and extending radially from saidretaining-ring, said ring being soreadable at said shank when removedfrom said socket and permitting, when spread, replacement of saidreflector; said shank being tapered at an angle equal to that of thesocket, and'said shank extending'into the socket and frictionallygripped therein and being rotatable therein so as to be gripped withequal and maximum firmness at any angle to which it is rotated withrespect to said handle.

LESTER L. GI'I'TELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 546,195 Sharp Sept. 10, 1

1.94".5 2 lVfowry Dec. 19, 1 3

2,1 1.0,005 .Greenberg Dec. 13, 1938

